Electric switch



ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l java/2252*.

E. NIELSEN ELECTRIC SWITCH June 17, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1928 Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMANUEL NIELSEN, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGN OR 'I'O HAMILTON BEACH MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF BACIN E, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 01 WISCONSIN ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed March 24, 1928. Serial 1T0. 284,487.

The invention relates to electric switches of that ty in which a conductor plate and a pair of ed-contacts are movable so that their faces will slide over one another.

One object of the invention is to provide in an electric switch of the t pa in which the members are relatively slida lo and in which one member carries a pair of insulated and relatively fixed contacts, having a connection 1 which permits universal movement of one member relatively to the other to minimize arcing while the switch is being opened and closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch of this type in which the contacts of the members are self cleaning, in

.which one of the members is free to move so as to avoid oxidizing the metal of the contacts to insure efiicient engagement of the con- 2c tacts to minimize wear on the contacts. These.

factors are of importance in switches which are frequently opened and closed, such, .for example, as those used in electric drink mixers. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved switch'for use in electric drink'mixers. Other objects of the invention from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

will appear In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view, partly elevation and partly in section of an electric drink mixer embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the switch. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the switch. Fig. 4is a front perspective of the switch. Fig. 5 is'a. rear perspective of the switch. Fig. 6 1s a vertical section through the switch in its open position. Fig. fi -is a similar view with the switch closed. Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7*, is a section on line 7 a of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective of the fixed switch member. Fig. 9 is a detail of the supporting plate for said member. Fig. 10 is a perspective of the movable switch member;

The invention is exemplified in an electric drink mixer which comprises a hollow su porting column A, an electric motor B fix y mounted at the upper end of the column, an agitator C on a shaft 0 dependin from, and fixed to rotate with, the rotor 0% the motor B, and a receptacle D which is adaptedto be held in operative position around the agitator by a stud a fixed to the column and a hook (1 adapted to extendinto the top portion of the receptacle. One of the electrical conductors 10 is directly connected to the motor, and the switch is included in the other conductor 11.

The, switch is supported in the column by abar 12. Said bar is removably secured to the column at its lower end by a screw 13 which is on the stud a, and at its upper end by a screw 14 which secures the hook a. to the column. The stationary and movable members of the switch are supported by said bar... The stationary switch-member comprises a pair of contact-studs 14 and 15 carried by a mounting-plate 16 which is secured to the bar 12 by rivets 18. A plate 19 andstrips 20 of insulating material are interposed between bar 12 and plate 16 to insulate them from each other. Strips 20 are extended to the upper end of the plate 16,.and the studs 14 and 15 extend .through insulating sleeves and said strips, so they will lie completely insulated from each other. One branch of the conductor 11 is soldered to a terminal 21' which is riveted to the back end of contactstud 15, and the other branch of conductor 11 which leads to the motor is connected to a terminal 22 which is soldered to the back-- end of the contact-stud 14. A strip 23 and a plate 24 of insulation are interposed between terminals 21 and 22 and the mounting plate 16 to insulate the plate 16 from the terminals.- Plate 24 is extended upwardly beyond the plate 16 and bent forwardly to prevent the terminal 22 from being bent into close relation or contact-with plate 16. Said plate 24 is also extended, as at 25, to underlie the terminal 21 to prevent it and the conductor connected thereto from contacting with plate 16. The movable member of the switch comprises a conductorlate 26 which is adapted to slide onto an off the contacts 14 and 15. The heads of said studs are convex and project from said insulating strips 20. This plate 26 is adapted to bridge across contacts 14 and 15 to close the motor circuit.

A plate of insulation 27 is secured to the front of the conductor-plate 26 by rivets 28 which have convex heads 29 at their rear ends to bear against and slide on the strips 2'0 respectively. Supporting plate 16 has a longitudinal slot30 between strips 20 to guide a slidable bar 31 for shifting the conductorplate 26 into and out of engagement with contacts 14 and 15. The lower end of shifterbar 31 is bent forwardly at its lower end to form an arm 33 which extends through an elongated slot 32 in the plate 12. This arm is adapted to be engaged by the upper edge of the receptacle D to operate and to hold the movable switch-member to close the motorcircuit when the receptacle is placed in operative position. The upper end of shifter-bar 31 is bent forwardly, as at 35, through slot 30 and upwardly, as at 34. The upper end of member 31 is connected to shift the conductor-plate by a stud 36 which is riveted to the portion 34 of bar 31, extends loosely through a hole 27 in the insulating plate 27, and is provided at its rear end with a head 38. This constitutes a loose connection, which permits universal movement of the conductor-plate 26 relatively to the insulating strips 20 and contacts 14 and 15, so that the plate will be free .to move forward bodily or angularly to insure equalized contact between the conductor-plate and both contacts 14 and 15. A spring 39 has its lower end secured to a hook 40 which is struck up from a plate 41 which is secured to the support by the lower rivets 18 which secure late 16 and bar 12 together. The upper end of spring 39 is connected to a stud 42 which is riveted to shifting-member 31. This spring exerts a downward pull on shifter-bar 31 to retract it, and conductor plate 26, to separate the plate from contacts 14 and 15 when said member is released by the withdrawal of the receptacle D. The lower ends of insulating plate 27 on the conductor-plate 26 abut against the upper end of the plate 12 when said member is retracted or in its lowered position. The pull of spring 39 is applied to stud 42 rearwardly of shifter-bar 31 so it will also tend to hold said member against the back face of insulating-plate 19 which is fixed to the back of supporting bar ,12, and this will cause the upper end 34 of the shifter-bar 31 to hold plate 26 close to guide-strips 20. The lower end of bar 31 is loosely confined by hook-plate 41 so the upper end of said bar may fulcrum on the upper portion of the back face of plate 19 when the plate 26 en ages and is deflected forwardly by the studs 14 and 15. This deflection is resisted by spring 39 so the plate will be pressed against said studs to insure efiicient contacts. The plate 26 has suflicient looseness at stud 36 to rock laterally so both of its side-portions will contact with the studs respectively. There is also some looseness around the shifter-bar 31 to permit it to rock laterally in event that the connection at stud 36 is insuflicient to permit the desired lateral rocking of the plate 26.

This construction exemplifies one in which pressure is applied through the loose connections to the slidably mounted conductorplate 26 so it will be free to be positioned entirely and pressed against the convex faces of the studs 14 and 15 to insure efficient contact between said plate and both of said studs, and in which a single spring exerts a pull to retract the shifter-bar and conductor-plate and press the conductor-plate against said studs.

A plate 44 of thin sheet metal is secured to the back of mounting plate 16 by rivets 18 and has integral flexible tongues 45 which are bent around the conductor to hold them in desired position.

In operation the motor circuit will be open when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6. When the receptacle is placed into position it will engage arm 33 and push the shifting member 31 upwardly against the force of spring 39. The conductor-plate 26 will be shifted upwardly by stud 36, and during such shift it will be yieldingly pressed backwardly to slide onto and across the faces of the studs 14 and 15. In this movement the conductor plate 26 rubs against both of the contacts 14 and 15, so that they will be kept clean, so as to avoid crystallizing of the metal, and the plate is free to accommodate itself to irregularities or any unevenness in the contacts, and to also minimize arcing be tween the contacts and Wear.

The invention exemplifies a switch construction which is adapted to be supported on a bar which is insertable ina hollow column, in which the switch comprises a pair of members, one of which carries a pair of contacts in fixed relation to each other, and a conductor-plate which is adapted to slide across the contacts and is freely movable to accommodate itself to the fixed contacts in such a manner that-the contacting faces will be kept clean, and in which crystallizing, arcing, and uneven wear will beminimized.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: h

1. In an electric switch, the combination of a pair of members, one of which has two of the members being mounted to move in a direction to effect sliding enga ement between thefaces of the contacts and plate, and a connection which permits universal movement of one of the members while the switch is being closed. P

2. In an electric switch, the combination of a pair of members, one of which has two rigid contacts mounted in fixed relation to, and insulated from, each other, the other of which has a conductor plate to bridge the contacts, one of the members being movable in a direction to effect sliding engagement of the faces of the contacts and plate, a con nection which permits universal movement of one of the members while the switch is being closed, and spring means for pressing the plate and contacts together.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of a pair of members, one of which has two rigid contacts mountedin fixed relation to, and

insulated from, each other, the other ofwhich has a conductor plate to bridge the contacts, one of the members being movable in a direction to effect sliding engagement of-the faces of the contacts and plate, a connection which permits universal movement of one of the members while the switch is being closed,

and a spring applied to retract the movable member and press the plate and contacts into engagement.

4. In an electric switch, thecombination of a support, a pair of rigid contacts mounted in fixed relation on the support and insulated from each other, a conductor-plate adapted to engage and bridge the contacts and movably mounted on the support so that one face thereof may slide onto and across the faces of the contacts, and a connection which permits universal movement of the plate as it is shifted into or out of engagement with the contacts.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of a su port, a pair of rigid contacts mounted in fixed relation on the support and insulated from each other,a conductor plate adapted to engage and bridge the contacts and movably mounted on the support so that one face thereof may slide onto and across the faces of the contacts, a connection which permits universal movement of the plate as it is shifted into or out of engagement with the contacts, and spring-means for pressing the plate against the contacts.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of a support, a pair of rigid contacts mount ed in fixed relation on the support and insulated from each other, a conductor plate adapted to engage and bridge the contacts and movably mounted on the support so that one face thereof may slide onto and across the faces of the contacts, a connection which permits universal movement of the plate as it is shifted into or out of engagement with the contacts, and a spring applied to retract the shifter and the plate and to press the plate against said contacts.

7. In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting bar, a air of switch members, one of which is ed to the bar and the other of which is mounted to open and close an electrical circuit, one member having a pair of rigid contacts mounted'in fixed relation to and insulated from each other, the other having a conductor plate, a shiftermember carried by the bar and movable in a direction to cause the faces of the contacts and plate to slide on each other, and a connection which permits universal movement of one of the members while the switch is being opened and closed.

.8. In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting bar, a pair of switch members, one of which is fixed to the bar and the other of which is mounted to open and close an electrical circuit, one member having a pair of rigid contacts mounted in fixed relation to and insulated from each other, the other having a conductor plate, a shiftermember carried by the ,bar and movable in a direction to cause the faces of the contacts 7 other, and a connection between the shiftermember and the plate which permits uni versal movement of the latter as. the switch is being closed or opened.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of a supportingbar, a pair of rigid contacts mounted in fixed relation to and insulated from each other, a conductor plate, a shifter member on which the plate is mounted movable in a direction to cause the faces'of the contacts and plate to slideon each other, a connection between the shifter-member and the plate which permits universal movement of the latter as the switch is being closed or opened, and spring-means applied to retract press the plate against the contacts.

11. In an electric switch the combination of a supporting-bar, a-pair of rigid contacts fixedly held on the bar and insulated from each other, a conductor-plate for engaging the contacts to close an electric circuit, a member mounted on the bar to move the plate in a direction to cause the face of the plate to slide across the faces of the contacts, a loose connection between the member and the plate which permits movement of the plate as the plate is shifted into or out of engagement with the contacts, and a spring applied to the plate through said connection to press the plate towards the contacts.

12. In an electric switch the combination of a supporting bar, a pair of rigid contacts fixedly held on the bar and insulated from each other, a conductor plate for engaging the contacts to close an electric circuit, a member on which the plate is carried loosely mounted on the bar to move the plate in a direction to cause the face of the plate to slide across the faces of the contacts, a spring applied toretract the member and topress the plate towards the contacts.

13. In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting bar, a mounting plate secured to said bar and provided with a slot, a pair of contact-studs fixedly secured in the mounting plate and insulated from each other, a conductor-plate movable in a direction so one of its faces will slide onto the contact-studs, a slidable shifter-bar in the slot, a connection between the conductor plate and the shifter-bar, and a spring applied to retract the shifter-bar and to hold it so it will press the plate against the contacts.

14. In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting bar, a mounting plate secured to said bar, and provided with a slot, a pair of contact-studs fixedly secured in the mounting plate and insulated from each other, a conductor-plate movable in a direction so one of its faces will slide onto the contactstuds, a slidable shifter-bar loosely mounted in the slot, a connection between the conductor plate and the shifter bar, and a spring applied to retract the shifter-bar and to hold it so it will press the plate against the contacts.

15. In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting bar, a mounting plate secured to said bar and provided with a slot, a pair of contact studs fixedly secured in the mountmg plate and insulated from each other, a conductor-plate movable in a direction so one of its faces will slide onto the contact-studs, a slidable shifter-bar in the slot, a loose connection between the conductor-plate and the shifter bar, and a spring applied to retract the shifter bar and to hold it so it will press the plate against the contacts.

16. In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting bar, a mounting plate secured to said bar and provided with a slot, a pair of contact studs fixedly secured in the mounting plate and insulated from each other, a conductor-plate movable in a direction so one of its faces will slide onto the contact-studs, insulating strips on the mounting plate facing the conductor plate, a slidable shifter-bar in the slot, a connection between the conductor-plate and theshifter bar, and a spring applied to retract the shifter-bar and to hold it so it will press the plate against the contacts.

17 In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting-bar, a mounting plate secured to said bar and provided with a slot, a pair of contact-studs fixedly secured in the mounting plate and insulated from each other, a conductor-plate movable in a direction so one of its faces will slide onto the contact-studs, a slidable shifter-bar in the slot, an insulated loose connection between the conductor-plate and the shifter-bar, and a spring applied to retract the shifter-bar and to hold. it so it Will press the plate against the contacts.

18. In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting bar, a mounting plate secured to and insulated from the supporting bar and provided with a slot, a pair of contact studs fixedly secured in the mounting plate and insulated from each other, a conductor-plate movable in a direction so one of its faces will slide onto the contact-studs, a slidable shifterbar in the slot, a connection between the conductor plate and the shifter bar, and a spring applied to retract the shifter bar and to hold it so it will press the plate against the contacts.

19. In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting bar having a slot therein, a mounting plate secured to and insulated from the bar and provided with a slot, a pair of contact-studs fixedly secured in the mounting plate and insulated from each other, a conductor plate movable in a direction so as to cause one of its faces to slide onto the contact-studs, a shifter-bar slidable in the slot and having an arm extending through the slot in the supporting bar, a connection between the conductor plate and the shifter bar,

gnd a spring applied to retract the shifter 20. In an electric switch, the combination and having an arm extending through the slot in the supporting bar, a connection between the conductor-plate and the shifterbar, and a spring applied to retractthe shifter-bar and to hold it so it will press the plate against the contacts, the shifter bar being loosely mounted.

21. *In an electric switch, the combination of a supporting bar, a pair of contact studs carried by the bar and insulated from each other, a conductor plate movable in a direction to cause'one of its faces to slide onto the contact-studs, a shifter bar slidably supported by the bar, a connection between the conductor plate and the shifter bar, a spring applied to retract the shifter bar in the back of the bar, and a plate secured to the bar having flexible tongues for holding conductor wires.

Signed at Racine, Wisconsin, this 7th day of March, 1928.

EMANUEL NIELSEN. 

